Scent of Orient

Venice has always been the crossway between East and West. From the very beginning its market in Rialto was the richiest and splendid in the world. Merchants and goods arriving from every distant contries met the needs and the desires of aristocracy and people in this lavishly city. Not only spices, but even fabrics, precious stones, gold: Venice was the capital of luxury things and a melting pot for lots of foreigner communities, first of all the Germans, who had their 'fondaco' (warehouse) in front of the market. Not distant from St. Mark's, there is the Orthodox Church of the Greek Community, decorated with icons of Cretan artists. Few steps and you can visit the School (Brotherhood) of the Dalmatians, the loyal sailormen of the Venitians, where Carpaccio painted here one of his best masterpieces.